A person’s employment status and their number of dependents will be among the cost-of-living indicators which will be used to determine the criteria for the targeted RON 95 petrol subsidy.

These indicators will be considered as aspects of a household’s expenses, minister of deputy domestic trade and cost of living Fuziah Salleh said.

“If subsidy targeting [for RON 95 petrol] is implemented, it will undoubtedly have an impact on households that rely on RON 95,” Fuziah said, adding that the basic living expenses statistics (PAKW) and the cost of living index (IKSH) developed by the department of statistics (DOSM) will also incorporate these indicators.

Indicators such as dependents and cost of living are considered in the studies developed by DOSM, which means that factors like owning two cars, both husband and wife being employed, having young children in school, or children attending university are all part of the cost of living indicators,” Fuziah said.

As the Malaysian government plans for the implementation of targeted subsidies for RON 95 petrol, it is considering the use of e-wallets and the MyKad national identity card as a mechanism. UTM institute of transport head of legal and quality Siti Ayu Jalil cautioned, however, for potential risks to privacy and data security.